Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by a systematic literature search with meta-analyses on selected studies.

Design

MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from January 2000 to November 2014. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) written in English that compared LLLT (at least eight treatment sessions) with sham laser in KOA patients. The efficacy effective size was estimated by the standardized mean difference (SMD). Standard fixed or random-effects meta-analysis was used, and inconsistency was evaluated by the I-squared index (I(2)).

Results

Of 612 studies, nine RCTs (seven double-blind, two single-blind, totaling 518 patients

SUBMITTER: Huang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4814167 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature